Regioselective and stereoselective oxidation of fused ring systems useful for the preparation of aminosterols

ABSTRACT

An efficient method for the synthesis of aminosterol compounds such as squalamine and compound 1436 is described. A method of the invention provides for regioselective sulfonation of a fused ring system. The fused ring system base can be, for example, a steroid ring base. The aminosterol compounds are effective as, among others, antibiotics, antiangiogenic agents and NHE3 inhibitors.

This is a divisional application of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/268,660(filed Oct. 11, 2002), now U.S. Pat. No. 6,933,383, which is acontinuation application of International Application PCT/US01/12004(filed Apr. 12, 2001) which claims the benefit of U.S. ProvisionalApplication 60/196,646 (filed Apr. 12, 2000), all of which are hereinincorporated by reference in their entirety.

GOVERNMENT FUNDING

The research described in this patent application was funded in part bySmall Business Innovative Research Grant #1 R43 CA 80473-01 from theNational Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a novel method of producing fused ring basedcompounds or aromatics including aminosterol compounds. A method of theinvention offers regioselective oxidation and regioselective sulfonationof fused ring systems with few protecting groups. The aminosterolcompounds produced by a method of the invention are useful as, amongothers, antibiotics, antiangiogenic agents and NHE3 inhibitors.

2. Description of the Related Art

Several aminosterol compositions have been isolated from the liver ofthe dogfish shark, Squalus acanthias. One important aminosterol issqualamine(3β-(N-[3-aminopropyl]-1,4-butanediamine)-7α,24R-dihydroxy-5α-cholestane24-sulfate), illustrated FIG. 1. The aminosterol squalamine, whichincludes a sulfate group at the C-24 position, is the subject of U.S.Pat. No. 5,192,756 which also describes the aminosterol's antibioticproperties.

Since the discovery of squalamine, however, several other interestingproperties of this compound have been discovered. For example, asdescribed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,733,899 and 5,721,226, squalamine mayfunction as an antiangiogenic agent useful for the treatment of cancers.See U.S. Pat. No. 6,147,060. Additional uses of squalamine such as anagent for inhibiting NHE3 and as an agent for inhibiting endothelialcell growth are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,792,635.

Methods for synthesizing squalamine have been described. See WO 94/19366which relates to U.S. Patent Application. No. 08/023,347. U.S. Pat. No.5,792,635 also discloses squalamine isolation and synthesis techniques.

Stemming from the discovery of squalamine, other aminosterols have beendiscovered in the dogfish shark liver and have been investigated. Oneimportant aminosterol that has been isolated and identified as “compound1436” or simply “1436” has the structure shown in FIG. 2. This compoundhas the general molecular formula C₃₇H₇₂N₄O₅S and a calculated molecularweight of 684.53017. Like squalamine, this aminosterol has a sulfategroup at the C-24 position.

Compound 1436 previously has been described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,795,885.As further described in this patent, compound 1436 has a variety ofinteresting properties. For example, compound 1436 inhibits humanT-lymphocyte proliferation, as well as the proliferation of a widevariety of other cells and tissues. Additional uses of compound 1436 aredisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,143,738. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,795,885 and5,847,172 also describe the structure of compound 1436 as well asprocesses for synthesizing and isolating the compound. For example,compound 1436 can be prepared from a squalamine starting material.

Difficulties have been encountered, however, when attempting to providea process for synthesizing squalamine or compound 1436 from commerciallyavailable starting materials (i.e., not from shark liver isolates).These difficulties include low overall yields of the desired steroidproduct as well as multiple synthetic steps.

Additional difficulties are encountered in providing a sulfate group atthe C-24 position. Particularly, it is difficult to provide the sulfategroup at the C-24 position in a highly stereoselective orientation. See,for example, Pechulis, et al., “Synthesis of 24R-Squalamine, anAnti-Infective Steroidal Polyamine,” J. Org. Chem., 1995, Vol. 60, pp.5121-5126; and Moriarty, et al., “Synthesis of Squalamine. A SteroidalAntibiotic from the Shark,” Tetrahedron Letters, Vol. 35, No. 44,(1994), pp. 8103-8106.

Because of the importance of squalamine, compound 1436, otheraminosterols, 24R and 24S-hydroxylated steroids and vitamin-D₃metabolites, there has been considerable interest in preparingstereospecific compounds especially at the C-24 position. As mentionedabove, processes for producing squalamine and compound 1436 have beendescribed. However, these processes do not enable large scale productionof the desired aminosterol compounds because relatively low yields arerealized by these processes.

Processes for stereoselectively producing cerebrosterol, MC 903, and 1α,24(R)-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ have been developed. Koch, et al., “AStereoselective Synthesis and a Convenient Synthesis of Optically Pure(24R)- and (24S)-24 hydroxycholesterols,” Bulletin de la SociétéChimique de France, 1983, (No. 7-8), Vol. II, pp. 189-194; Calverley,“Synthesis of MC 903, a Biologically Active Vitamin D MetaboliteAnalogue,” Tetrahedron, 1987, Vol. 43, No. 20, pp. 4609-4619; andOkamoto, et al. “Asymmetric Isopropylation of Steroidal 24-Aldehydes forthe Synthesis of 24(R)-Hydroxycholesterol, Tetrahedron: Asymmetry, 1995,Vol. 6, No. 3, pp. 767-778. These processes attempt to reduce22-ene-24-one and 22-yne-24-one systems in a stereoselective manner.Unfortunately, the processes were not highly stereospecific and oftenresulted in mixtures of the 24R and 24S which were difficult toseparate. Thus these processes were not conducive to large scalesynthesis.

Other attempts were also not conducive to large scale synthesis. Theseprocesses suffered from being too lengthy or impractical. For example,successful reduction has been achieved of a related 25-ene-24-one systemusing Noyori's 2,2′-dihydroxy-1,1′-binaphthyl lithium aluminum hydridereagent at −90° C. to give 95:5 selectivity for the 24R-alcohol.Ishiguro, et al. “Stereoselective Introduction of Hydroxy-Groups intothe 24-, 25-, and 26-Positions of the Cholesterol Side Chain,” J C. S.Chem. Comm., 1981, pp. 115-117. However, the 25-ene-24-one intermediatematerial (producible in four steps) is less readily accessible than the22-ene-24-one system (producible in one step). Furthermore, the lowtemperature required for the chiral reduction also detracts from thecommercial practicality of this method.

A large scale stereoselective synthesis has been developed to satisfythe requirements for rapid entry in Phase I clinical trials. Zhang, X.,et al., J. Org. Chem., 63, 8599-8603 (1998). However, the synthesissuffered two major drawbacks. First, the synthesis was quite lengthy.Secondly, introduction of a 7α-hydroxyl group proved problematic.

Thus there exists a need in the art for a method of preparingaminosterol compounds such as squalamine, compound 1436 and varioushomologs that overcome the drawbacks of prior synthetic methods.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention answers such a need by providing a short andregio- and stereoselective method of preparing aminosterol compounds.According to a method of the invention, regio- and stereoselectiveoxidation and sulfonation can be achieved with fewer protecting groupsand consequently fewer steps.

The invention also provides a method of regioselectively andstereoselectively oxidizing a primary hydroxyl substituent in thepresence of a secondary hydroxyl substituent attached to the same fusedring system.

The invention further provides a method of regioselectively sulfonatingone secondary hydroxyl substituent over another secondary hydroxylsubstituent attached to the same fused ring system.

A method of the invention also provides novel intermediate compounds.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Advantageous aspects of the invention will be evident from the followingdetailed description which should be considered in conjunction with theattached drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates the chemical structure of squalamine; and

FIG. 2 illustrates the chemical structure of compound 1436.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Microbial hydroxylation has been achieved in steroid chemistry. Mahato,S. B., et al., Steroids, 62, 332-345 (1997). Despreaux has described themicrobial 7α-hydroxylation of 3-ketobisnorcholenol (1, Scheme 1 below)using the species Botryodiplodia theobromae. Despreaux, C. W., et al.,Appl. Environ. Microbiol., 51, 946-949 (1986); Despreaux et al., U.S.Pat. No. 4,230,625; and Despreaux et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,301,246. Thisinvention uses steroid compound 2 as a starting material for thesynthesis of squalamine, 1436 and homologous aminosterols. A method ofthe invention introduces the 7-α-hydroxyl group using microbialhydroxylation and proceeds without protection of the 7-hydroxyl group. Ageneral outline of a method of the invention is outlined in Scheme 1below:

According to a method of the invention, steroid 2 may be converted toaminosterol compounds such as, but not limited to, squalamine, compound1436 and aminosterol homologs by means of two regioselective reactionswithout the use of protecting groups. According to the invention, in afused ring sytem, a primary hydroxyl moiety can be selectively oxidizedover a secondary hydroxyl moiety. For example, if the fused ring systemhas a steroidal structure, as described below, a C-22 primary hydroxylmoiety can be selectively oxidized over a secondary hydroxyl moiety atthe C-7 position. Also according to the invention, in a fused ringsystem, one secondary hydroxyl moiety can be selectively sulfonated overanother secondary hydroxyl moiety. For example, if the fused ring systemhas a steroidal structure, as described below, a C-24 secondary hydroxylmoiety can be selectively sulfonated over a C-7 secondary hydroxylmoiety. According to the invention, relatively high yields (e.g. 77%) aswell as regioselectivity and stereoselectivity may be achieved. Some C24selectivity has been shown in the sulfonation reaction on aspermidinyl-steroidal diol. However, this reaction not only requiredheating and protection of the C7-OH group, but the yield of the compoundwas low (10%). Moriarty, R. M., et al., Tetrahedron Lett., 35, 8103-8106(1994).

An example of the invention provides a short and regioselective methodof preparing an aminosterol compound of the general formula I:

In formula I, NR₁R₂ may be any saturated or unsaturated, linear orbranched amino group. According to the invention, such an amino groupmay contain more than one nitrogen. Preferably, in formula I:

R₁ and R₂ are independently selected from the group consisting of: H,alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, —(CH₂)_(n)—NH—(CH₂)_(m)—NH₂, and—(CH₂)_(n)—NH—(CH₂)_(m)—NH—(CH₂)_(p)—NH₂;

n is an integer from 1-3;

m is an integer from 1-4; and

p is an integer from 1-2.

Most preferably, the compound of formula (I) is squalamine or compound1436. According to the invention, an aminosterol compound of formula Imay be prepared by

(a) reacting compound 2:

under conditions sufficient to form compound 3:

(b) reacting compound 3 under conditions sufficient to form compound 4:

(c) reacting compound 4 under conditions sufficient to form compound 5:

(d) reacting compound 5 under conditions sufficient to form compound 7:

(e) reacting compound 7 under conditions sufficient to form compound 8:

(f) reacting compound 8 under conditions sufficient to form compound 9:

(g) reacting compound 9 sufficient to form compound 10:

(h) reacting compound 10 under conditions sufficient to form compound11:

(i) reacting compound 11 under conditions sufficient to form anaminosterol compound of the general formula (I), as described above.Each of the compounds produced by a method of the be isolated andpurified using techniques known in the art building, but not limited to,extraction and chromatography. Each of the compounds produced by amethod of the invention may be characterized using techniques known inthe art such as, for example, mass spectrometry, ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR.

As set forth above, a method according to the invention includesprocesses for regioselectively oxidizing a C-22-OH group in the presenceof a C-7-OH group as well as the regioselective sulfonation of a C-24—OHgroup in the presence of a C-7-OH group. With respect to steps (a)-(i)of a method of the invention, “under conditions sufficient” may be anysynthetic method that achieves the desired transformation withouteffecting the stereochemistry of the remainder of the molecule. Withrespect to step (a), compound 2 may be transformed or converted tocompound 3 using reduction methods known in the art. Despreaux, C. W.,et al., Appl. Environ. Microbiol., 51, 946-949 (1986); Starr, J. E.,Editor: C. Djerassi, Holden-Day, Inc., San Francisco, Chapter 7, pgs.300-307 “Steroid Reaction” (1963). Preferably, reduction is achievedusing lithium in ammonia with, preferably, yields of at least about 76%.

Compound 3 may be transformed or converted to compound 4 by anyprotecting method known in the art, preferably, by ketalization of thecarbonyl moiety. Ketalization may be performed utilizing ethylene glycolin chlorotrimethylsilane in good yield. Chan, T. H., et al., Synthesis,203-205 (1983).

Compound 4 may be transformed or converted to compound 5 byregioselective oxidation of the primary alcohol at the C-22 position,preferably by reaction with bleach in the presence of a catalyst. Thebleach may be any bleach, preferably sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl). Thecatalyst may be any catalyst which in combination with the bleachachieves the regioselective oxidation. Preferably, the catalyst is aTEMPO catalyst (2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidinyloxy free radical,commercially available from Aldrich Chemicals, Milwaukee, Wis.).Preferably, conditions are chosen such that yields of about 98% areachieved. Anelli, P. L., et al., Org. Syn., Vol. 69, page 212, “AGeneral Synthetic Method for the Oxidation of Primary Alcohols toAldehydes: (S)-(+)-2 Methylbutanal”.

Compound 5 may be transformed or converted to compound 7 by acarbon-carbon double bond formation reaction (e.g., Wittig reaction,Wadsworth-Emmons reaction, Peterson olefination reaction). Preferably,compound 5 is reacted with Wadsworth-Emmons reagent 6 (Jones, S. R., etal., J. Org. Chem., 63, 3786-3789 (1998)):

to afford enone compound 7 efficiently (82%).

Compound 7 may be transformed or converted to compound 8 by reduction ofthe C-24 carbonyl moiety in good yield. Compound 8 may be transformed orconverted to compound 9 by reduction of the C22 double bond. Preferably,reduction was achieved by means of hydrogenation. Compound 9 may betransformed or converted to compound 10 by deprotection of the C3carbonyl.

Compound 10 may be transformed or converted to compound 11 byregioselective sulfonation of C24 hydroxyl group, preferably, byreacting compound 10 with a very small excess (5%) of sulfur-trioxidecomplex. Preferably, the diastereomeric excess in the sulfate is about95% based on the HPLC method.

Lastly, compound 11 may be transformed or converted to the desiredaminosterol compound (e.g. squalamine, compound 1436 or homologouscompounds) by any means whereby a carbonyl moiety may be converted to anamino group including, but not limited to, reductive aminationconditions. Rao, M., et al., J. Nat. Prod. 63, pp. 631-635 (2000);Zhang, X., et al., J. Org. Chem. 63, 8599-8603 (1998); and Weis, A. L.,et al., Tetrahedron Lett., 40, 4863-4864 (1999).

An example of a preferred method of preparing aminosterol compoundsqualamine is illustrated in Scheme 2 below:

The invention also provides a method of regioselectively oxidizing aprimary hydroxyl substituent in the presence of a secondary hydroxylsubstituent attached to the same fused ring base. According to thisembodiment of the invention, a fused ring base to which both a primaryhydroxyl substituent and a secondary hydroxyl substituent are attachedis reacted with bleach in the presence of a catalyst whereby solely theprimary hydroxyl substituent is oxidized to an aldehyde. According tothe invention a fused ring base is any compound containing at least twosaturated and/or unsaturated ring systems which share at least twocarbon atoms. According to the invention, the fused ring base may alsocontain appropriate substituents (e.g. alkyl groups, hydroxyl groups,amino groups, etc.) or unsaturations (e.g. double bonds, triple bonds,carbonyl groups). An appropriate substituent or unsaturation is one thatwould not adversely effect the desired transformation or conversion, asdescribed below. Preferably, the fused ring base is a steroid ringsystem having the following general formula:

where R is a linear or branched, substituted or unsubstituted, saturatedor unsaturated alkyl group. Preferably, the fused ring base has one ofthe following structures:

The bleach and the catalyst are each as described herein.

The invention also provides for a method of regioselectively sulfonatingone secondary hydroxyl substituent in the presence of another secondaryhydroxyl substituent attached to the same fused ring base. The fusedring base is as described above except that the preferred fused ringbase has the following structure:

According to this embodiment of the invention, a fused ring base towhich two secondary hydroxyl substituents are attached is reacted withsulfur-trioxide pyridine complex (commercially available from AldrichChemical, Milwaukee, WI):

The methods of the invention achieve regioselectivity of one hydroxylmoiety in the presence of another unprotected hydroxyl moiety. Themethods of the invention achieve regioselectivity of at least about 9:1excess of the desired hydroxylated or sulfonated compound. Preferably,selectivity of greater than about 19:1 is achieved, and most preferably,greater than about 33:1 selectivity is achieved.

The methods of the invention as described above may be used to produce ahydroxylated intermediate that can be further modified, as describedabove, to produce the desired final product. The methods of theinvention produce regiospecific intermediates that can be furthermodified to synthesize squalamine, compound 1436, other usefulaminosterols or steroids having stereospecific groups (e.g., C-24sulfate groups in an R orientation for, squalamine and compound 1436).Such intermediates include, but are not limited to, compounds 3-10 asillustrated in Scheme 2 above.

The methods of the invention will now be described in specific examples.However, the following examples serve merely to illustrate the inventionand are not meant to limit the invention in any manner.

EXAMPLES Regioselective and Stereoselective Synthesis of a Precursor forSqualamine, Compound 1436 or Homologous Aminosterols

General. The ¹H and ¹³CNMR spectra were generated at 400 and 100 MHz,utilizing 7.28 and 77.0 (CDCl₃) ppm as the references respectively.Elemental analyses were performed at Oneida Research Services, Inc.,Whitesboro, N.Y. Fast Atom Bombardment mass spectral analysis wascarried out at M-Scan Inc., West Chester, Pa.

Example 1 Preparation of (5-α-,7-α-)-3-Ketobisnorcholan-7,22-diol (3)

Liquid ammonia (125 mL) was treated with tetrahydrofuran (15 mL) andlithium (3 00 mg, 43 mmol) and stirred for 30 min. Then a solution of 2(Despreaux, C. W., et al., Appl. Environ. Microbiol., 51, 946-949(1986)) (352 mg, 1.20 mmol) in tetrahydrofuran (20 mL) and ethanol (0.4mL) was added. The reaction mixture was stirred for 40 min and then 20 gof ammonium chloride was added. The solvent was evaporated undernitrogen and the residue was treated with water (200 mL) and extractedwith ethyl acetate (3×75 mL). The organic phase was washed with brine,dried over sodium sulfate, filtered, and evaporated. Purification of theresulting solid by flash chromatography on silica gel (hexane-ethylacetate-methanol 10:10:1) afforded pure 3 (251 mg, 71%, mp 221-223° C.,MW 348.53); ¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 3.86 (br s, 1H), 3.65-3.62 (m, 1H),3.39-3.36 (m, 1H), 2.34-1.18 (m, 23H), 1.05 (d, J=6.6 Hz, 3H), 1.01 (s,3H), 0.71 (s, 3H); ¹³C NMR (CDCl₃): δ 67.9, 67.4, 52.4, 50.2, 45.2,44.1, 42.7, 39.5, 39.2, 39.0, 38.7, 38.1, 36.5, 35.6, 27.7, 23.7, 21.2,16.7, 11.9, 10.4; MS (+FAB): 349 ([M+I]⁺, 100), 331 (52); Anal. Calcdfor C₂₂H₃₆O₃: C, 75.82; H, 10.4 1. Found: C, 75.71; H, 10.19.

Example 2 (5-α-,7-α-)-3-Dioxolane Bisnorcholan-7,22-diol (4)

To a mixture of steroid 3 (101 g, 0.290 mol) of Example 1 and anhydrousethylene glycol (800 mL) was added chlorotrimethylsilane (200 mL, 1.5 8mol) over 60 min at room temperature under nitrogen. The reactionmixture was stirred at room temperature for 19 h. The mixture was pouredslowly into saturated sodium bicarbonate solution (1 L) and extractedwith dichloromethane (3×500 mL). The organic layer was washed with brine(3×150 mL) and dried over sodium sulfate (20 g). After filtration andevaporation, the product was recrystallized from ethyl acetate in hexane(800 mL). The solid was filtered and washed with hexane (15 0 mL) toafford 4 (96.14 g, 84%, mp 173-175° C., MW 392.58); ¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ3.93 (s, 4H), 3.83 (br s, 1H), 3.65 (d of d, J=10.4 and 3.1 Hz, 1H),3.36 (d of d, J=10.4 and 7.1 Hz, 1H), 2.0-1.8 (m, 3H), 2.7-1.1 (m, 21H),1.05 (d, J=6.6 Hz, 3H), 0.82 (s, 3H), 0.69 (s, 3H); ¹³C NMR (CDCl₃): δ109.2, 67.8, 64.1, 52.4, 50.3, 45.6, 42.7, 39.5, 39.3, 38.8, 37.4, 36.2,36.1, 35.7, 35.5, 31.2, 27.7, 23.7, 20.9, 16.7, 11.9, 10.3; MS (+FAB):394 ([M+I]⁺, 100); Anal. Calcd for C₂₄H⁴⁰O4: C, 73.43; H, 10.27. Found:C, 73.15; H, 10.15. This reaction was accomplished at 10% concentrationof substrate, which allows for efficient scale-up of the procedure.

Example 3 Preparation of (5-α-,7-α-)-3-Dioxolane-7-hydroxyBisnorcholan-22-al (5)

To a solution of 4 (100 g, 255 mmol) of Example 2 in methylene chloride(1,200 mL) was added potassium bromide (3.19 g, 26.8 mmol) and sodiumbicarbonate (10.97 g, 130 mmol) dissolved in water (120 mL). The cooled(0° C. reaction mixture was treated with TEMPO (1.20 g, 7.7 mmol) and10-13%, sodium hypochlorite (170 mL, 275-358 mmol). After stirring(magnetic) for 2 h at 0° C., the reaction mixture was treated withsodium thiosulfate (20 g, 126 mmol) in water (220 mL). The organic phasewas separated, washed with brine (3×70 mL), dried over sodium sulfate(30 g), filtered, and concentrated in vacuo for 18 h at room temperatureto afford 5 (99.5 g, 98%, MW 390.57, FW 397.77); ¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 9.57(d, J=3.4 Hz, 1H), 3.95 (s, 4H), 3.83 (br s, 1H), 3.76 (m, 1H), 2.3 5(m, 1H), 2.0-1.2 (m, 21H), 1.13 (d, J=6.8 Hz, 3H), 0.83 (s, 3H), 0.72(s, 3H); ¹³C NMR (CDCl₃): δ 204.9, 109.0, 67.6, 64.0, 50.8, 49.7, 49.3,45.4, 43.0, 39.3, 39.0, 37.3, 36.2, 35.9, 35.6, 35.4, 31.0, 26.8, 23.8,20.7, 13.3, 12.1, 10.2; MS (+FAB): 391 ([M+I]⁺, 100); Anal. Calcd forC₂₄H₃₈0.4—H₂O: C, 72.47; H, 9.83. Found: C, 72.49; H, 9.77.

Example 4 Preparation of (5-α-,7-α-)-3-Dioxolane-7-hydroxyCholest-23-en-24-one (7)

A mixture of 97% sodium t-butoxide (37 g, 373 mmol) and anhydroustetrahydrofuran (400 mL) was stirred for 10 min under nitrogen and thena solution of 6 (94 g, 423 mmol, see Scheme 2 above) in tetrahydrofuran(150 mL) was added in one portion. The mixture initially warmed to 41°C., but returned to 24° C. while stirring (45 min). Then a solution of 5(99.48 g, 250 mmol) of Example 3 in tetrahydrofuran (400 mL) was addedover 60 min. The reaction mixture was stirred overnight at roomtemperature (18 h) and then water was added (30 mL). The reactionmixture was concentrated in vacuo and treated with cyclohexane (1200mL), toluene (600 mL) and water (160 mL). The organic layer wasseparated, washed with brine (3×100 mL) and water (160 mL), dried oversodium sulfate (30 g), filtered, and evaporated to yield a solid. Thecrude solid was recrystallized from ethyl acetate in cyclohexane anddried in vacuo at 50° C. for 5 h to yield 7 (94.64 g, 82%, mp 177-178°C., MW 458.69); ¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 6.72 (d of d, J=15.7 and 9.0 Hz, 1H),6.07 (d, J=15.7 Hz, 1H), 3.94 (s, 4H), 3.83 (br s, 1H), 2.85 (hept,J=6.9 Hz, 1H), 2.29 (m, 1H), 2.0-1.1 (m, 22H), 1.11 (m, 9H), 0.83 (s,3H), 0.71 (s, 3H); ¹³C NMR(CDCl₃): δ 204.5, 152.4, 126.2, 109.1, 67.8,64.1, 54.9, 50.4, 45.6, 43.0, 40.0, 39,5, 39.3, 38.1, 37.4, 36.3, 36.1,35.7, 31.2, 28.1, 23.6, 20.9, 19.3, 18.6, 18.4, 12.1, 10.3; MS (+FAB):459 ([M+1]+, 92), 99 (100); Anal. Calcd for C₂₉H₄₆O₄: C, 75.94; H,10.11. Found: C, 75.5 7; H, 9.87.

Example 5 Preparation of (5-α-,7-α-,24S—)-7,24-Dihydroxy-3-dioxolaneCholest-23-ene (8)

A dried and nitrogen blanketed reactor was charged with 1 M (R)-MeCBSreagent in toluene (20 mL, 20 mmol) and 1 M borane-tetrahydrofurancomplex in tetrahydrofuran (25 mL, 25 mmol) and stirred for 2 h at roomtemperature. The reaction mixture was cooled (−15 to −28° C.), treatedwith steroid 7 (9.16 g, 20 mmol) of Example 4 in tetrahydrofuran (150mL), and stirred for 2 hr (−20 to −28° C.). The reaction mixture wastreated with methanol (25 mL) with stirring for 18 hr at roomtemperature, and then repeatedly evaporated by distillation and treatedwith methanol (4×30 mL) to exchange solvents. Finally methanol (70 mL)was added and the reaction mixture was brought to reflux, cooled in thefreezer (no crystals formed), and concentrated in vacuo.Recrystallization from acetonitrile (100 ML), filtration, andevaporation at 50-60° C. for 7 hr afforded crystals of 8 (7.43 g, 80%,mp 121-125° C., MW 460.70, FW 464.3 1); ¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 5.5-5.3 (m,2H), 3.94 (s, 4H), 3.82 (br s, 1H), 3.75 (in, 1H), 2.2-1.1 (m, 25H),1.05 (d, J=6.6 Hz, 3H), 0.94 (d, J=6.7 Hz, 3H), 0.88 (d, J=6.8 Hz, 3H),0.83 (s, 3H), 0.70 (s, 3H); ¹³C NMR (CDCl₃): δ 139.5, 128.6, 109.2,78.5, 67.8, 64.1, 55.5, 50.6, 45.6, 42.6, 40.0, 39.5, 39.4, 37.5, 36.2,36.1, 35.7, 35.6, 33.9, 31.2, 28.7, 23.6, 20.9, 20.4, 18.3, 18.1, 12.0,10.3; MS (+FAB): 462 ([M+I]⁺, 100); Anal. Calcd for C₂₉H₄₈O₄-0.2H₂O: C,75.02; H, 10.51. Found: C, 75.00; H, 10.48.

Example 6 Preparation of (5-a-,7-a-,24R-)-7,24-Dihydroxy-3-dioxolaneCholestane (9)

Steroid 8 (10.0 g, 21.5 mmol) of Example 5, toluene (170 mL),triethylamine (1 mL), and 10% platinum on carbon (0.5 g) were combinedunder 50 psi of hydrogen in a Parr apparatus (19 h). The reactionmixture was filtered through CELITE® (10 g), washed with chloroform andethyl acetate (10 mL total), and concentrated in vacuo to afford asolid, which was recrystallized from ethyl acetate in hexane (180 mL).The solid was filtered and concentrated at 50-60° C. under vacuum for 7h to afford pure 9 (9.24 g, 92%, mp 161-163° C., MW 462.72, FW 466.32);¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 3.95 (s, 4H), 3.84 (br s, 1H), 3.33 (br s, 1H),2.0-1.1 (m, 29H), 0.93 (m, 9H), 0.83 (s, 31), 0.67 (s, 3H); ¹³C NMR(CDCl₃): δ 109.2, 77.0, 67.8, 64.1, 55.9, 50.5, 45.5, 42.6, 39.5, 37.4,36.2, 36.1, 35.7, 35.5, 33.5, 32.0, 31.2, 30.5, 28.2, 23.6, 20.9, 18.8,18.6, 17.2, 11.8, 10.3; MS (+FAB): 463 ([M+I]+, 100)⁺, Anal. Calcd forC₂₉H₅₀O₄.0.2H₂O: C, 74.70; H, 10.89. Found: C, 74.48; H, 10.49.

Example 7 Preparation of(5-α-,7-α-,24R-)-7,24-Dihydroxy-3-ketocholestane (10)

Steroid 9 (2.03 g, 4.35 mmol) of Example 6, p-toluenesulfonic acid (200mg), water (1 mL), and acetone (100 mL) were combined with stirring for4 h. The reaction mixture was concentrated in vacuo and treated withdichloromethane (100 mL) and saturated sodium bicarbonate solution (50mL). The organic layer was removed, washed with brine (3×25 mL), driedover sodium sulfate (10 g), filtered, and evaporated at 50-60° C. Thesolid was recrystallized from ethyl acetate in hexane (50 mL), filtered,washed with hexane, and dried in vacuo at 50-60° C. for 7 hr to afford10 (1.63 g, 89%, mp 151-153 C, MW 418.67); ¹HNMR (CDCl₃): δ 3.88 (br s,1H), 3.33 (br s, 1H), 2.5-1.1 (m, 29H), 1.02 (s, 3H), 0.94 (m, 9H), 0.71(s, 3H); ¹³C NMR (CDCl₃): δ 212.0, 76.9, 67.3, 56.1, 50.3, 45.1, 44.1,42.6, 39.4, 39.0, 38.1, 38.0, 36.6, 35.8, 35.6, 33.6, 32.1, 30.6, 28.2,23.6, 21.1, 18.9, 18.6, 17.3, 11.8, 10.4; MS (+FAB): 419 ([M+I]⁺, 100);Anal. Calcd for C₂₇H₄₆O₃: C, 77.46; H, 11.07.

Found: C, 77.25; H, 11.04.

Example 8 Preparation of Potassium Salt of(5-α-,7-α-,24R-)-7-Hydroxy-3-keto-cholestan-24-yl Sulfate (11)

A dried and nitrogen blanketed flask was treated with compound 10 (2.09g, 5.0 mmol) of Example 7 dissolved in anhydrous pyridine (30 mL).Sulfur trioxide pyridine complex (836 mg, 5.25 mmol, 1.05 equiv.)dissolved in pyridine (20 mL) was added to the reaction mixture, whichwas stirred for 4 h at room temperature. Water was added (10 mL) and thepyridine was removed by concentration in vacuo at 40° C. The residue wastreated with ethyl acetate (50 mL) and potassium chloride (1.12 g, 15mmol) dissolved in water with stirring for 1.5 h. The potassium salt of11 was collected on CELITE® (3 g) by filtration, washed with ethylacetate (50 mL) and water (10 mL), and dissolved in 1 N potassiumhydroxide in 15 methanol (10 mL, 10 mmol) and methanol (100 mL). Themethanol was removed in vacuo to dryness and the solid was washed withwater (30 mL), filtered, and dried in vacuo at room temperature for 20hr to afford 11 (2.10 g, 77%, MW 536.82, FW 544); ¹H and ¹³C NMR wereidentical to published spectra. HPLC analysis by the method describedpreviously (Zhang, X., et al., J. Org. Chem., 63, 8599-8603 (1998))indicated a diastereomeric excess of 95%.

Example 9 Preparation of Compound 1436

A clear colorless solution of compound 11 (16 mg, 0.032 mmol) andspermine (20 mg, 0.1 mmol, commercially available from Aldrich) inanhydrous methanol (3 ml) was stirred at room temperature under nitrogenfor 12 hours, cooled to −78° C., and treated dropwise with sodiumborohydride (1 pellet, 0.4 g, 10 mmol) in methanol (10 ml). Thisreaction mixture was stirred for 3 hours, treated with a mixture ofwater and methanol (10 ml each), warmed to room temperature, and thentreated with 0.78% trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) solution until its pHreached the range of 4-5. The resulting mixture was filtered through athin pad of CELITE®, and the CELITE® was washed with methanol and water(100 ml). CELITE® is SiO₂ that is commercially available from Aldrich.The combined acidic washes were concentrated in vacuo at roomtemperature and then freeze-dried overnight to give a white solid. TheCELITE® cake was then washed with isopropyl amine/methanol/water (140 mlof 1:3:3), and the basic portion was evaporated to reduce its volume.This material was freeze-dried overnight to give a light brown solid.Both washes contained compound 1436, so they were combined and acidifiedto a pH of 3 with 0.78% TFA, filtered, and loaded onto a small HPLCcolumn (1 cm diameter, see below). The reaction product was compound1436 (12.2 mg, 36%):

¹H NMR (400 MHz, D₂O): δ 4.14 (m, 1H), 3.83 (m, 1H), 3.2-3.0 (m, 13H),2.1-1.0 (m, 35H), 0.92 (m, 9H), 0.82 (s, 3H), 0.67 (s, 3H); ¹³C NMR (400MHz, D₂O): δ 87.2, 68.0, 57.9, 56.0, 50.5, 47.4, 45.6, 44.9, 42.8, 41.9,39.7, 37.5, 36.9, 36.7, 36.0, 35.8, 31.5, 31.1, 30.6, 28.3, 27.1, 24.8,24.1, 23.6, 23.4, 23.1, 21.4, 19.2, 17.7, 12.1, 11.2; MS (-LD): 684(M−1); Anal. Calcd. For C₃₇H₇₂N₄O₅S-3TFA-2H₂O: C, 48.58; H, 7.49; F,16.08; N, 5.27; S, 3.02. Found: C, 48.49; H, 7.40; F, 16.16; N, 5.31; S,3.05.

Example 10 Purification of Compound 1436 by HPLC

The crude material of Example 9 was dissolved in water (50 ml), cooledin an ice bath, and acidified with 1.5% TFA in water until its pH was 3.Initially, it was observed that one obtains a suspension as the pHdrops, and then a solution is obtained at lower pH. This solution wasloaded onto a Rainin reverse phase HPLC system (2.14 cm diameter, C18,100 Å, 8 μm) and eluted with A (water with 0.1% TFA) and B (acetonitrilewith 0.1% TFA). The HPLC program was as follows: 10 min (0-10% B), 60min (10-45% B), 10 min (45-80% B), 10 min (80% B). Pure product elutedin the 33 to 55 minute fractions, as determined by TLC (R_(f): 0.1-0.2in 6/3/1CH₂Cl₂/MeOH/NH₄OH)(should evaporate plates under vacuum beforeeluting, and observe with ninhydrin stain after eluting), which waslyophilized to produce 1.20 grams of compound 1436 as a white powder(70%); C₃₇H₇₂N₄O₅S-3TFA-2.5H₂O, FW 1072.18).

Example 11 Preparation of Squalamine

Squalamine was prepared by reacting the potassium salt of compound 11(0.5 equivalents) of Example 8 with H₂N(CH₂)₃NH(CH₂)₄N₃.2HCl (1equivalent) in NaOMe (2 equiv) and methanol at room temperature for 24hours and then at −78° C. with NaBH₄ followed by treatment with H₂,RaNi, RP-HPLC, 69% based on the potassium salt of compound 11. See Weiset al., Tetrahedron Letters, 40, 4863-4864 (1999).

In describing the invention, applicant has stated certain theories in aneffort to disclose how and why the invention works in the manner inwhich it works. These theories are set forth for informational purposesonly. Applicants do not wish to be bound by any specific theory ofoperation.

While the invention has been described in terms of various specificpreferred embodiments and specific examples, those skilled in the artwill recognize that various changes and modifications can be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as definedin the appended claims.

Without further description, it is believed that one of ordinary skillin the art can, using the preceding description and the illustrativeexamples, make and utilize the compounds of the present invention andpractice the claimed methods. It should be understood that the foregoingdiscussion and examples merely present a detailed description of certainpreferred embodiments. It will be apparent to those of is ordinary skillin the art that various modifications and equivalents can be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. All thepatents, journal articles and other documents discussed or cited aboveare herein incorporated by reference in their entirety.

1. A method for preparing an aminosterol compound comprising the stepsof: (a) reacting compound 2:

in the presence of liquid ammonia and lithium to form compound 3:

(b) reacting compound 3 in the presence of ethylene glycol to formcompound 4:

(c) reacting compound 4 in the presence of TEMPO and sodium hypochloriteto form compound 5:

(d) reacting compound 5 with compound 6

to form compound 7:

(e) reacting compound 7 in the presence of borane and (R)-MeCBS to formcompound 8:

(f) reacting compound 8 in the presence of H₂ and platinum on carbon toform compound 9:

(g) reacting compound 9 in the presence of p-toluenesulfonic acid toform compound 10:

(h) reacting compound 10 in the presence of sulfur trioxide pyridinecomplex to form compound 11:

(i) reacting compound 11 with either spermine, followed by treatmentwith sodium borohydride to form compound 1436 or a pharmaceuticallyacceptable salt thereof:

or with H₂N(CH₂)₃NH(CH₂)₄N₃, followed by sequential treatment withsodium borohydride and H₂ with RaNi to form squalamine or apharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof